-
200
Waterwheels
Europeans build waterwheels in rivers and streams to harness water as an energy source. Waterwheels were used for crop irrigation, grinding grains, supply drinking water to villages and later to drive sawmills, pumps, forge bellows, tilt-hammers, trip hammers, and to power textile mills. They were probably the first method of creating mechanical energy that replaced humans and animals. -
Jan 1, 1000
Windmills
Persians build first windmills as energy source. Windmills were developed for milling grain for food production and adapted to many other industrial uses -
Steam Power
Steam power was used for machanical power and to power factories. By using a steam engine a factory could be located anywhere, not just close to water. -
Coal power
Coal mining became possible thanks to the steam engine pipes that were invented to take water out of coal mines. Vast coal deposits are found in North America, and it becomes the prime source of energy. -
Natural Gas Wells
In 1821, the first well specifically intended to obtain natural gas was dug in Fredonia, New York by William Hart. After noticing gas bubbles rising to the surface of a creek,Hart is regarded by many as the 'father of natural gas' in America. Expanding on Hart's work, the Fredonia Gas Light Company was eventually formed, becoming being the first American natural gas company. -
The Electric Motor
The first rotating device driven by electromagnetism was built by the Englishman Peter Barlow in 1822 (Barlow's Wheel).
After many other less successful attempts with relatively weak rotating and reciprocating apparatus, Prussian Moritz Jacobi created the first real rotating electric motor in May 1834 that developed mechanical output power. -
First American Oil Well
On August 28, 1859, George Bissell and Edwin L. Drake made the first successful use of a drilling rig on a well drilled especially to produce oil, at a site on Oil Creek near Titusville, Pennsylvania. Before this, wells had not been drilled especially for oil. -
Geothermal Energy is Used
People in Boise, Idaho, were the first to feel the heat of the world's first district heating system as water is piped from hot springs to town buildings. Within a few years, the system is serving 200 homes and 40 downtown businesses. Today, there are four district heating systems in Boise that provide heat to over 5 million square feet of residential, business, and governmental space. -
Nuclear Power Becomes Commercial
In the new century several factors have combined to revive the prospects for nuclear power. First is realisation of the scale of projected increased electricity demand worldwide, but particularly in rapidly-developing countries. Secondly is awareness of the importance of energy security, and thirdly is the need to limit carbon emissions due to concern about global warming. In the USA the 2005 Energy Policy Act provided incentives for establishing new-generation power reactors. -
Oil Production and the Future
Global oil production peakdakated 70 billion barrels a day in 2006, but is expected to drop sharply in coming decades. As energy producer attempt complicated methods to tapd ifficult to reach fossil fuel reserves, politicians and the public debate how to deal with climate change and increasing energy consumpttnio by fast-developing nations threaten to create future shortages. There's an increase in efforts to develop and use alternative enegry sources like wind, solar, and geothermic power.
